Choosing a reputable dealer; getting your car weighed and registered; and importing vehicles.
If you are looking to buy a new Toyota vehicle, the official dealer in Barbados is Nassco. For new or used Suzuki or Chevrolet vehicles, the official dealer is Inchcape Barbados (formely Simpson Motors). For new or used Ford or Kia vehicles, the official dealer is Ansa Motors.
Nassco offers financing to Barbadians, and most foreign nationals who are resident in Barbados, including immigrants, CARICOM nationals, and persons on the Welcome Stamp visa. Financing is also offered by Inchcape Barbados (formely Simpson Motors), but only to Barbadians and permanent residents.
When you buy a vehicle – new or used – you first need to get the vehicle insured and then weighed at the Barbados Licensing Authority's weighing bridge at The Pine, St. Michael. Your vehicle's tank must be full, and proof of sale and insurance must be furnished. It costs BBD $25 to get a vehicle weighed.
After your vehicle is weighed, you will be given a weight certificate and can proceed to vehicle registration with the Barbados Revenue Authority. It costs BBD $400 to get a vehicle registered.
Note: You must visit the Barbados Revenue Authority (also located on the same compound at The Pine) to pay the weighing fee before you can get your vehicle weighed on the bridge.
Many car dealers in Barbados will handle the vehicle registration process for you. It may be a complimentary service or something they offer for an extra fee. There can be long wait times to get vehicles weighed and registered, so we strongly advise letting your dealer handle it for you if they offer to do so.
In case you are thinking of importing a car into Barbados, please note that imported cars are subject to very high import duties and levies. Furthermore, only vehicles less than four years in age with an odometre reading not exceeding 50,000 km can be imported. [1]
Please note you must have a valid domestic or foreign driving licence to drive on a public road in Barbados. If you have a foreign licence, you cannot use it in Barbados without a valid Visitor Driving Permit.
[1] Import duties, excise taxes and vehicle age/odometre limits do not apply to official diplomats importing their car. They also do not apply to Barbadian citizens returning to Barbados under the Barbados Network Programme and importing their car under the terms of that Programme if they have owned the vehicle for at least four years prior to importation.
If your foreign driving licence has expired, you will need to get your foreign driving licence renewed before you can apply for a Visitor Driving Permit.
However, if your foreign driving licence is expiring (but has not yet expired), the validity period of your Visitor Driving Permit will be limited to the amount of time remaining on your foreign driving licence, or the maximum period allowed for the licence fee paid, whichever is sooner.
Foreign nationals only need a Visitor Driving Permit if they wish to drive on public roads in Barbados using a valid foreign driving licence.
It is not currently possible to apply for a new driving licence online.
However, if you have a Barbados ID card and your driving licence expired less than three years ago, you can renew your driving licence at ezpay.gov.bb. Once payment has been submitted via EZpay, you must visit the Barbados Licensing Authority at The Pine no earlier than two business days (but no later than eight business days) after payment, with a physical or electronic copy of your receipt, to get your plastic card replaced.
Vehicles that are 10 years of age or older must pass a roadworthy inspection to be bought, sold or insured. Inspections must be performed by an authorised garage, or the Vehicle Inspection Division of the Barbados Licensing Authority.
We do not recommend any specific insurance provider, but you may wish to consider Trident Insurance or Guardian General.
If you are renting or leasing a car, your hire company is responsible for arranging car insurance on your behalf.
It is likely that your vehicle was originally registered in the name of the company which offered you financing. In these circumstances, you are required to get your vehicle weighed and registered again, since it constitutes a change of ownership now that the company has relinquished its lien over your vehicle.
You will need to visit the Barbados Licensing Authority's weighing bridge at The Pine, St. Michael. Your vehicle's tank must be full, and proof of sale and insurance must be furnished. It costs BBD $25 to get a vehicle weighed.
After your vehicle is weighed, you will be given a weight certificate and can proceed to vehicle registration with the Barbados Revenue Authority. It costs BBD $400 to get a vehicle registered.
Note: You must visit the Barbados Revenue Authority (also located on the same compound at The Pine) to pay the weighing fee before you can get your vehicle weighed on the bridge.